Envelop moistening, sealing, and stamping device



P. M. ZENNER AND H. H. WILLIAMS.

ENVELOP MOISTENING, SEALING, AND STAMPING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.10,19I9.

Patented. July 19, 1921.

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PHILIP M. ZENNER, 013 ATHENS, OHIO, AND HOWARD H. WILLIAMS, 0F HUNTINGTON,

WEST VIRGINIA.

ENVELOP MOISTENING, SEALING, AND STAMPING DEVICE.

Application filed September 10, 1919.

To all whom it may com com:

Be it known that we, PHILir M. ZENNER and HOWARD H. lVILLniMs, citizens of the United States, residing, respectively, at Athens, in the county of Athens and State of Ohio, and at Huntington, in the county of Cabell and State of West Virginia, have invented. a certain new and useful Improvement in Envelop Moistening, Scaling, and Stamping Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to provide an envelop moistening, sealing and stamping device of simple, durable, practical and inexpensive construction and such as can be adapted for ordinary office use.

Our invention consists of certain details of construction hereinafter set forth, pointed out in our claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in. which- Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional View of our device;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail view, in section, of the sponge retaining chamber we employ,

Fig. 3 shows a detail view, a part of same being broken away, of the sealing roller we employ; and

Fig. 4 shows a detail view in section of the water chamber and head therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the reference numeral 10 is used to indicate a cylinder, open at each of its ends, with screw threads on its outer surface, and at its base or rear, end, to receive a screw threaded cap, or head 11, said cap having a central lug 12 on its inner surface. A sponge retaining chamber, or cylinder, 13, telescopes in the forward end of the cylinder 10, and is adapted for movement therein, and is held at outward tension by a coil spring 14: secured in the chamber 10, its outer end butting against a cap 15, secured preferably by screw threaded engagement in the rear end of the cylinder 13, said cap being provided with a central channel, or orifice 16, to permit water to pass through the cap. The rear end of the coil spring 14 surrounds, and is held in place by the lug 12. A washer, preferably rubber or leather, may be secured at the rear end of the cap 15, if desired, and a sponge 17 is designed to fill the chamber in the cylinder 13, and be held therein by the sponge l8 turned on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 19, 1921.

Serial No. 322,852.

the outer end of the cylinder, and bv the cap 15, when it is screwed into position.

On the outer surface of the cylinder 10, we have secured a roller 19', mounted near the outer end of the cylinder, and on the opposite side of the cylinder 10 we have secured a second and preferably larger roller 20, designed to have a strip of stamps secured thereon, the stamps 21 being designed to extend forwardly under metal straps 22 and 23 to the end of the cylinder 10.

Our device is designed to be of such size as can be easily operated by holding in the hand. An. operator holds the outer end of the sponge retaining chamber against a desk, or other convenient object, and pushes downward thus forcing water from the chamber in the cylinder 10 (which obviously has been filled and the head screwed in position thereon) into the sponge 17. This he then draws across the dry mucila-ge on the envelop, by a movement of the hand, then by a return movement the roller 19 is caused to engage the outer surface of the envelop flap and, as the roller moves across the envelop, to seal it.

By experiment it has been ascertained that two very swift and natural movements of the hand will moisten and seal the envelop. The sponge is then used to moisten the envelop at the point where the stamp is to be placed and the same movement of the device causes a stamp to be in position over the moistened place. The operator then places a thumb or finger on the stamp and tears it from the strip as he also secures it to the envelop.

Although we have shown and described specific means, we do not desire to be limited to the exact construction shown and described, as other means may be employed for carrying out our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An envelop moistening and sealing device comprising a water retaining tube and a sponge retaining tube secured for telescopic movement upon each other, the sponge retaining tube being provided with a cap at its base, and an orifice in said cap, and the water retaining tube being provided. with a coil spring designed to but? against the cap of the sponge retaining tube and its other end being held in engagement against a head which closes the Water retaining tube, sub stantially as shown and described.

2. 'An envelop moistening and sealing device comprising a Water retaining tube and a. sponge retaining tube secured for telescopic movement upon each other, the sponge retaining tube being provided with {L cap at its base, and an orifice in said cap, and the Water retaining tube being provided With a coil spring designed to butt against the cap of the sponge retaining tube and its other end being held in engagement against a head which closes the Water retaining tube, a roller secured on the outer surface and near the outer end, of the Water retaining tube, substantially as shown and'desoribcd.

In testimony whereof Wehave signed the foregoing specification.

. PHILIP M. ZENNER.

HOWVARD H. WILLIAMS. 

